euphorbia
noun
eu·phor·bia
yü-ˈfȯr-bē-ə 
: any of a large genus (Euphorbia) of herbs, shrubs, and trees of the spurge family that have a milky juice and flowers lacking a calyx and included in an involucre which surrounds a group of several staminate flowers and a central pistillate flower with 3-lobed pistils
broadly
: spurge
Examples of euphorbia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This includes shrubs, trees and evergreens—including oak, juniper and strawberry trees as well as rosemary, myrtle, wild fennel and euphorbia.
—
Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Here, Gerdes created an airy, cohesive container with delicate, shimmering flowers of alyssum and ‘Glitz’ euphorbia, pops of pale purple ‘Starfish’ petunia blooms, soft mounds of velvety artemisia, and trailing silver tendrils of dichondra.
—Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2025
Although most succulent euphorbias are from the Eastern Hemisphere, there is a page on the IES website that shows 36 species from five continents.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2025
All other euphorbias, including the popular crown of thorns, will display the same shape of flowers.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2025
Plus, with whorls of rubbery leaves, certain euphorbias create a fun, funky shape.
—Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
In springtime, plant euphorbias in full sun near the border’s front.
—Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
These would include bleeding heart, foxglove, euphorbia, helleborus, irises, milkweed, peonies, azaleas, rhododendrons, and wisteria.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2023
Combine 'Diamond Frost' euphorbia, asparagus fern, pink tuberous begonia, 'Key Lime Pie' heuchera, 'Dragon Wing' pink begonia, and 'Sinbad' angel wing begonia.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 June 2023
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Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Here, Gerdes created an airy, cohesive container with delicate, shimmering flowers of alyssum and ‘Glitz’ euphorbia, pops of pale purple ‘Starfish’ petunia blooms, soft mounds of velvety artemisia, and trailing silver tendrils of dichondra.
—Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2025
Although most succulent euphorbias are from the Eastern Hemisphere, there is a page on the IES website that shows 36 species from five continents.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2025
All other euphorbias, including the popular crown of thorns, will display the same shape of flowers.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2025
Plus, with whorls of rubbery leaves, certain euphorbias create a fun, funky shape.
—Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
In springtime, plant euphorbias in full sun near the border’s front.
—Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
These would include bleeding heart, foxglove, euphorbia, helleborus, irises, milkweed, peonies, azaleas, rhododendrons, and wisteria.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2023
Combine 'Diamond Frost' euphorbia, asparagus fern, pink tuberous begonia, 'Key Lime Pie' heuchera, 'Dragon Wing' pink begonia, and 'Sinbad' angel wing begonia.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Euphorbia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euphorbia. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
euphorbia
noun
eu·phor·bia
yu̇-ˈfȯr-bē-ə
1
: a large genus of plants of the spurge family that have a milky juice and flowers included in an involucre which surrounds a group of several staminate flowers and a central pistillate flower and that include a number which have been used medicinally
2
: any plant of the genus Euphorbia
also
: any of various other plants that belong to the spurge family
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